Saudi authorities stepping up hotel inspections

The Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities (SCTA) is to intensify monitoring efforts at hotels and furnished apartments across the Kingdom during the Eid holidays.

Its Department of Licensing and Quality Assurance is stepping up the activity as it does on all national occasions and holidays, when the demand for accommodation facilities rises.

“SCTA’s inspection teams across the Kingdom will step up their inspection visits to accommodation facilities in accordance with a set program in order to ensure the commitment of facilities to the approved prices, as well as their assurance to fix the approved price list, operating license, and the classification certificate along with placing complaint box in a conspicuous place in order to be seen easily by facility guest," said SCTA assistant vice-president for licensing and quality assurance Eng. Ahmed Al Eisa.

He has also urged both Saudi citizens and residents to immediately report any violations by any of the accommodation facilities through SCTA's toll-free number (19988), or make a formal complaint to the nearest branch of SCTA.

The SCTA is particularly concerned about the violations on prices since the rate allowed above the approved tariff for hotels is 30% and for furnished apartments it is 50%, or where the facility does not display its price list in a visible place during Eid Al Fitr holiday this year.